Dredge pump construction



Dec. 24, 1963 A. T. CLAY 3,115,099

DREDGE PUMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ART/4 u F? T CLA Y Dec; 24, 1963 A. T. CLAY 3,115,099

DREDGE PUMP CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TEE.E

INVENTOR. APTHURT C 04 Y United States Patent 3,lll5,ti9 DREDGE PUMP CUNSTRUCTIQN I Arthur T. Qlay, llndianapelis, End, assignor to Hetherington & Berner, Inc, lndianapoiis, Ind, a corporation of lndiana Filed .Ian. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 81,587 4 Claims. (til. Mfr-114) This is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 402,068 filed January 4, 1954, for Dredge Pump, now Patent No. 3,018,736.

In dredge pump construction, it has long been customary to provide the pump housings and other parts of various types of metal, both cast and of a number of different alloys, so as to reduce the amount of wear which results from the type of material handled and distributed by such umps.

In prior pumps, one of the difficulties has been the fact that where large rocks have often inadvertently been drawn into the pump, severe damage has resulted and in any case the rocks or other material of similar nature may become lodged or stuck in the pump in such a manner as to prevent its eflicient and proper operation.

It is therefore obviously desirable to provide means to overcome situations which are encountered, in accordance with the foregoing, and to that end the pump of the present construction has been developed, as an outgrowth of the pump of my original application, which in and of itself overcame many of the difficulties theretofore exist- In my prior application, I disclosed a dredge pump which was particularly suitable for handling all kinds of aggregate and accommodating the same during operation by the provision of a flexible volute section, which permitted abnormal obstructions to be passed and substan tially reduced the amount of wear during operation.

In the prior pump however, some difficulties were encountered in regard to the actual structural formation of the pump casing, to such an extent that a considerable amount of development was necessary to overcome structural defects themselves although the basic concept quite clearly was satisfactory.

The present invention as an outgrowth of my prior invention, involves certain specific aspects of the volute portion of the pump casing, so as to obviate defects previously suggested as existing.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a pump casing construction wherein the volute portion or section thereof, is comprised of an annular formation, semi-circular in cross-section, availing of plies of fabric and rubber-like material, joined together or vulcanized in such a manner as to provide a unitary structure, the same being attached to suitable side plates or members to provide the casing as a whole, with certain instrumentalities being in turn supplied to additionally reinforce the structure and prevent structural failures thereof during operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pump construction in which the volute is made of fabric plies and rubber-like material Vulcanized into an integral or unitary whole, of annular configuration generally semicircular in cross section, the free edges or portions of the volute section thus provided being in turn equipped with mounting portions to be connected to the side plates or members in a novel manner, with limiting means being provided to prevent separation of the mounting portions from the plates during operation under all conditions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel construction wherein the volute is a self supporting or free standing member in and of itself, being constructed of heavy ply and cord construction so as to absorb all ice kinds of shocks which may be delivered thereto either by reason of the actual form or size of the aggregate or other material being pumped by the pump, or by the centrifugal action taking place by reason of the form of the impeller, and yet being completely satisfactory in all respects to pump all kinds of aggregate under all kinds of conditions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel form of volute, which involves the provision of mounting portions thereof, including neck sections and flange sections, to the latter of which there is connected suitable side plates and in addition provision is made to retain the volute in connection with the plates by reason of means limiting the radial as well as the axial expansion or movement of the volute member itself by reason of its flexible nature even though of heavy construction in this type of construction.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a volute formed of heavy ply and cord construction involving the use of fabric and suitable resilient rubber-like material, vulcanized into an integral unit, mounted in conjunction with suitable side plates or members, an outlet being provided formed integrally in the same manner as the volute itself, being of flexible nature generally speaking when required by reason of the impact of materials passing through the pump or for other reasons, the flexibility being obviously limited and desirably so.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel mounting arrangement of a pump of the type herein before described, including suitable supporting means which in and of themselves limit the axial expansion of the unit as a whole, by reason of the flexible nature of the volute portion, additional members being provided to control the movement of the side or end members as the case may be.

Other and further objects of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the specification appended hereto and disclosed in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a pump embodying the novel construction hereof.

FIGURE 2 is a view in elevation, and partly in section showing further details of construction and overall arrangement of the elements hereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View showing the specific construction of the volute and its associated parts.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the pump hereof is a centrifugal pump supported on a base frame 1, of any suitable rigid construction, and having extending upwardly therefrom the usual shaft supports 2 and 3 which in turn carry the shaft 4 at their upper portions in suitable bearings 5 and 6.

A pump casing generally denoted '7, is shown in certain details in FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3 as well as FIG- URE l, of course, but in this particular instance it is comprised of a volute 8 to be more particularly described, of annular configuration semicircular in cross section as indicated in FIGURE 2, generally speaking.

The volute 8 is a flexible member in essence, being comprised in turn of a series of ply members, reference being had to FIGURE 3, in a particular example there being twelve such plies and denoted at lit) in their entirety, a suitable breaker strip section 11 being provided with open mesh breaker strips at 12.

Arranged internally as viewed in FIGURE 3, a suitable gum rubber inner liner 13 is provided a gum rubber tie-in ply at 14 being furnished and a weather resistant neoprene cover 15 being likewise provided. All of the foregoing, are vulcanized into an integral unit, in accordance with known vulcanizing practice, and a mounting portion generally denoted 16 provides an extension from the semi-circular cross sectional construction and includes the neck section 17 and flange section 18 formed as indicated in FIGURE 3 with the neck section extending axially and the flange section extending radially as indicated. At the outer extremity of the flange section, suitable openings are provided for purposes which will appear as this description proceeds.

The mounting portion lid, is obviously provided as indicated in FIGURE 1 at the opposite side of the semicircular construction previously described in detail, and as such these portions are adapted to engage with mating sections of side members or plates, that at the right in FIGURE 2 being denoted the intake plate or member 21, and at the left in FIGURE 2 being denoted the bearing end plate or member 22.

As indicated in FIGURE 3 which discloses the same on an enlarged scale, the intake side member 21 includes the radially extending part 23, the axially extending part 24 and a further radially extending part 25, the latter parts 24 and 25 being adapted to engage and support the neck and flange sections respectively 117 and 13 of the volute 8, as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3, a suitable opening 26 being provided in the flange section 25 so as to be in alignment with the opening 2% of the flange section 18 previously mentioned.

It will be understood that the opposite side of the volute 8 is similarly constructed and arranged in engagement with the bearing end or side member 22.

Reverting again to a consideration of FIGURE 3, a ring-like part generally denoted 28 is shown as mounted on the neck section 17 of the volute 3, this ring-like part including a radially extending portion 29 and an axially extending portion 36 integrally connected as will be understood. This construction provides an angle in section and having suitably vulcanized or otherwise adhered to the face thereof a suitable cushioning element 31 with the radial portion 32 connected to the radial portion 29 and the axial portion 33 connected to the axial portion of the said ring-like member 28.

Another part 35 may be provided, as a large Washer in essence, which is seated against the rear portion of the flange section 18, with suitable openings 36 therein, in alignment with the openings 26 and 25 previously mentioned. As will be readily understood, the provision of this member 35 is to enable the bolting together of the volute 8 with the side or end members 21 and 22 to form the casing unit as a whole.

In order to further complete the description of the volute, the outlet section 37 is referred to and shown in FIGURE 1, being integrally molded or otherwise formed with the flexible volute portion previously described in detail and being of like construction thereto obviously, a suitable flanged member 38 being shown as in position, this being normally attached to the discharge line as will be clear to those skilled in the art.

A suitable inlet flange as indicated in FIGURE 1 and denoted at 40 may be provided with slots such as 41 to which the mating flange of inlet piping is adapted to be connected by bolts in any preferred manner.

In order to support the pump casing as a whole on the base 1, suitable upright members 42 and 43 are provided, as shown in elevation and section in FIGURE 2 and in side view in FIGURE 1, having suitable openings in the upper portion thereof to align with corresponding openings in the casing and be bolted thereto. As will be understood from a consideration of FIGURE 2, the provision of these supports 42 and 43, limits the axial expansion of the volute 8 and the parts connected therewith, at the lower portion of such volute.

The upper portion of the volute is maintained in its desired condition and relationship as respects the end or side members thereof, by the provision of the bridge-like units 44 and 45 which are identical in construction and simply comprise suitable radially extending plate parts 46, transverse plate parts such as 47, integrally formed or fastened to the radial parts 46, the parts 46 having at their inner radial ends the plates 48 provided with openings adapted to align with corresponding openings in the flange section of the pump casing as will be apparent, the opposite ends of the parts 44 and 45 of the radial members 56 thereof being similarly equipped and connected to the bearing end or side member 22.

Suitable plates such as 50 may be positioned on the transverse parts 44 and 45 so as to prevent damage upon radial expansion of the volute 8 under operation.

As will be noted in FIGURE 2, an impeller generally denoted is shown in place and connected to the shaft id in any preferred manner for operation thereby in accordance with generally conventional practice.

I claim:

1. In pump construction of the class described, in combination, a pump casing having a self supporting axially and radially flexible volute section formed of fabric and rubber layers arranged annularly and of substantially semicircular cross section which is sufliciently rigid to limit pulsation under pumping action, mounting portions extending axially from the free edges of the volute section, a bearing side member connected to one of said mounting portions, an inlet side member connected to another of said mounting portions, each mounting portion having a neck section and a flange section to cooperate with the side members, comprising short cylindrical members seated on the neck section to limit the radial displacement thereof, an outlet section leading from the casing, and an impeller in the casing.

2. In pump construction of the class described, in combination, a pump casing having a self supporting axially and radially flexible volute section formed of fabric and rubber layers arranged annularly and of substantially semicircular cross section which is suificiently rigid to limit pulsation under pumping action, mounting portions extending axially from the free edges of the volute section, a bearing side member connected to one of said mounting portions, an inlet side member connected to another of said mounting portions, each mounting portion having a neck section and a flange section to cooperate with the side members, means to limit the axial displacement of the side members, means to limit the radial displacement of the mounting portions, an outlet section leading from the casing, and an impeller in the casing.

3. In pump construction of the class described, in combination, a pump casing having a self supporting axially and radially flexible volute section formed of fabric and rubber layers arranged annularly and of substantially semi-circular cross-section which is sufliciently rigid to limit pulsation under pumping action, mounting portions extending axially from the free edges of the volute section, a bearing side member connected to one of said mounting portions, an inlet side member connected to another of said mounting portions, each mounting portion having a neck section and a flange section to cooperate with the side members, means to limit the radial displacement of the mounting portions comprising short cylindrical members seated on the neck sections and including radial parts to control axial movement of the adjacent area of the volute section, an outlet section leading from the casing, and an impeller in the casing.

4. In pump construction of the class described, in combination, a pump casing having a self supporting axially and radially flexible volute section formed of fabric and rubber layers arranged annularly and of substantially semicircular cross-section which is sufficiently rigid to limit pulsation under pumping action, mounting portions extending axially from the free edges of the volute section, a bearing side member connected to one of said mount ing portions, an inlet side member connected to another of said mounting portions, each mounting portion having a neck section and a flange section to cooperate with the side members, a short cylindrical member on each neck section to limit the movement thereof, said short cylindrical members having resilient areas cooperating with said sections, an outlet section leading from the casing, and an impeller in the casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Butler Sept. 28, 1954 Creasy May 10, 1955 Kirby Aug. 21, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 28, 1919 Great Britain Ian. 15, 1931 Great Britain June 29, 1933 

1. IN PUMP CONSTRUCTION OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, IN COMBINATION, A PUMP CASING HAVING A SELF SUPPORTING AXIALLY AND RADIALLY FLEXIBLE VOLUTE SECTION FORMED OF FABRIC AND RUBBER LAYERS ARRANGED ANNULARLY AND OF SUBSTANTIALLY SEMICIRCULAR CROSS SECTION WHICH IS SUFFICIENTLY RIGID TO LIMIT PULSATION UNDER PUMPING ACTION, MOUNTING PORTIONS EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM THE FREE EDGES OF THE VOLUTE SECTION, A BEARING SIDE MEMBER CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID MOUNTING PORTIONS, AN INLET SIDE MEMBER CONNECTED TO ANOTHER OF SAID MOUNTING PORTIONS, EACH MOUNTING PORTION HAVING A NECK SECTION AND A FLANGE SECTION TO COOPERATE WITH THE SIDE MEMBERS, COMPRISING SHORT CYLINDRICAL MEMBERS SEATED ON THE NECK SECTION TO LIMIT THE RADIAL DISPLACEMENT THEREOF, AN OUTLET SECTION LEADING FROM THE CASING, AND AN IMPELLER IN THE CASING. 